Studies prove that users subconsciously evaluate the website during the first seconds. Ease of use and visual design are two crucial aspects here, and UX/UI in web development combines both. That’s why two practices are so essential in crafting a website with high convection and traffic.
Understanding the Meaning of UI/UX and Their Role in Development
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Before exploring details of UI in web development, one should know the difference between the two development aspects. Once you hire a dedicated Angular developer or any other specialist, knowing their specification is crucial:
| UX (User Experience) Design | UI (User Interface) Design |
|---|---|
| Creates intuitive interfaces and pages, easy to navigate. Includes page structure, CTAs, snippet placement, links, etc. | Makes the site visually appealing. Includes fonts, colors, and branding elements. |
Don’t confuse them with web development as well. Frontend, backend, or full stack development is the whole process of planning, coding, and technically completing the web page. UI and UX are only two parts of it.
Why Is UX/UI Design Important in Modern Web Development?
Business owners shouldn’t underestimate the importance of both UX and UI in web development. The competition among web pages is as tense as it never was. Each button and graphic element influences the success.
Better User Engagement
UX and UI in web development make users stay on the site longer:
- A well-structured page that is understandable and gives answers to questions;
- Intuitive navigation helps to complete target actions and find everything your client needs;
- Engaging elements – CTA, buttons, interactive elements, fill-in forms, motivation to complete the target action.
Together, UI in web development elements create a clear picture of what the website is: its goal, theme, offers, and benefits for users. A good e-commerce project is the best example of showing the top products and the ways to buy them.
Improved Accessibility
Inclusivity is not only a trend. This is a way to show your customer care and engage more people than your competitors.
For clients with hearing impairments, implement the page voiceover and voice assistants as part to enhance UI in web development. Visitors with visual impairments, including farsightedness and color blindness, should be able to change the font size and website color.
Mobile Responsiveness
Around 60% of world traffic will be accounted for by mobile devices in 2024. In Asia and Africa, the percentage is even higher, reaching 69% and 73%. UI in web development must be adapted to smartphones and tablets.
This includes vertical orientation, the size of buttons, and the site structure. Mobile applications are another trend in e-commerce, educational projects, and gaming.
Higher Conversion Rates
Even the most popular platforms – YouTube, Reddit, Amazon, etc. – don’t receive more than an hour of stay rate. Users interact for around 15 minutes in online shops, 18 on social media, and up to 50 on streaming services.
During this short time, you must motivate them to complete the target action. This requires a strong and clear CTA:
- “Buy now” is the best way to motivate the purchase;
- “Sign Up” is essential for websites with a registration system.
Depending on your goal, it may be “get feedback”, “complete the order”, “add to cart”, etc. Buttons require logical placement. “Buy now” commonly appears after some goods are added to the cart. An offer to receive a call is logical after the list of services.
Consistency and Branding
While UX and full-stack development improves usage, UI is in charge of brand awareness. This requires consistent branding elements:
- Consistent use of colors shows the brand’s mood and status;
- Consistent use of fonts is required on all pages. Commonly, companies cater to 1-2 fonts and typefaces.
- Consistent use of design elements creates visual associations.
Ensure the elements suit the target audience. Premium brands cater to deep and dark colors, while projects for children utilize cartoonish styles. Consistency is not enough – adapt elements to the audience.
Streamlined Navigation
The term seems too abstract for beginning specialists and business owners. “Navigation”, if talking precisely, is possible with the following elements:
- Logical Content Organization: Pages with similar content are connected and relinked; all the essential pages (home and account) can be accessed through any other page.
- User-friendly Menus: Commonly, the menu is placed in the top corner or moves together with users.
- A clear website map. Pages must be organized evenly and connected by the topic.
Сlear call-to-actions motivate one to complete the target action on time.
Improved SEO Performance
In 2024, search engines pay attention to UX and UI equally. To appear in search results, ensure a fast loading time, well-structured navigation, and mobile adaptivity. SEO experts recommend adding a website app to your code – most probably, it contributes to better indexation.
How Do Web Developers and UX/UI Designers Work Together?
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Within the working process, the blend of UX and UI in web development is unclear. See how developers and designers plan their projects and work on both aspects simultaneously.
The Initial Stages
Planning is key. At first, the designer brainstorms ideas and creative approaches for an excellent UI in web development. This includes structure, page layout, branding, special features, etc.
Afterwards, developers evaluate the ideas and their realness in terms of programming languages and coding languages. Marketing specialists are also engaged and adapt the concept to the user journey. The result becomes the project’s basis.
Conducting User Research
Websites must be adapted to the user personas and their demands:
- Professionals of UX in web design conduct user research about users’ needs from social media, analytical tools, and direct surveys;
- Web developers, meanwhile, suggest particular questions depending on the further work process.
UI in web development elements are also determined by surveys, customers’ potential tastes, and competitors.
Sharing and Editing
The simultaneous work process is the most complicated step. That’s why businesses require professional teams connected by the same routine, goal, and interactive services.
- UX designers create the website’s wireframe as part of improving UI in web development. They use visual editors and visual map services. This wireframe becomes the basis of the site’s structure and navigation.
- Web developers explore the suggestions and adapt them to budget and capabilities. Too expensive and time-consuming ideas may be rejected.
- UI in web development requires designers apply the branding elements to the ready-made structure. This includes color selection, fonts, animation, design elements, sounds, etc.
Once the website is almost complete, all parties check the aspect they’re in charge of. User interface design specialists adapt brand decisions to the real situation. UX designers test and edit navigation if necessary. Web developers engage with testers to find and fix mistakes.
More User Testing
An army of testers will examine the website before its release. CustDev and usability testing are the key elements to adapt the final product to the audience. After receiving the feedback and survey results, developers and UX design team edit the product:
- UX design experts develop the navigation and remove unclear elements;
- UI specialists fix color schemes, hard-to-read fonts, and distracting graphic elements.
The last step is for web developers to implement the changes.
The Final Design
The final product is the overall process goal. At this stage, UI in web development and developers implement the final steps:
- Texts proofreading;
- Color scheme adaptation;
- Examination of fonts and graphic elements;
- Elimination of unnecessary pages, buttons, and bugs.
Here, the team works together to prepare the product for release. Responsibility and attentiveness drive the whole process so the client and audience can receive an impeccable product.
Implementation of UX/UI in Web Development
Thinking that implementation is the final step is a huge mistake. Once the page becomes public, designers prepare for constant adjustments. For developers, new bugs and mistakes can appear.
The lack of server power is possible for popular websites with extensive traffic. Negative feedback also requires changes and adaptation for better customer satisfaction.
Source: Pexels.com
Final Thoughts About UI and UX In Website Creation
A web page with appealing design and interaction is adapted to mobile devices, readers with impairments, and users, opening the platform at night. It helps users complete target actions and navigate the content subconsciously.
However, apart from user satisfaction, UI/UX plays a role in SEO optimization and promotion. A well-optimized website engages natural traffic and makes it stay on the page longer than before. User’s experience and interface are no longer an option. These are inevitable aspects of a well-optimized website that engages with audiences and attracts target traffic.
